By Jon Paul Morosi, Detroit Free Press
January 18, 2008

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2008.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)
Tigers Chat  Jon Paul Morosi	Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team

TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Rick Porcello, rhp 2. Cale Iorg, ss 3. Scott Sizemore, 2b 4. Michael Hollimon, 2b/ss 5. Yorman Bazardo, rhp 6. Jeff Larish, 1b 7. Matt Joyce, of 8. Danny Worth, ss 9. Francisco Cruceta, rhp 10. Brandon Hamilton, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Scott Sizemore Best Power Hitter Jeff Larish Best Strike-Zone Discipline Scott Sizemore Fastest Baserunner Freddy Guzman Best Athlete Cale Iorg Best Fastball Rick Porcello Best Curveball Brandon Hamilton Best Slider Rick Porcello Best Changeup Yorman Bazardo Best Control Virgil Vasquez Best Defensive Catcher Dusty Ryan Best Defensive Infielder Danny Worth Best Infield Arm Kody Kirkland Best Defensive Outfielder Matt Joyce Best Outfield Arm Brent Clevlen

PROJECTED 2011 LINEUP

Catcher James Skelton First Base Carlos Guillen Second Base Placido Polanco Third Base Cale Iorg Shortstop Edgar Renteria Left Field Miguel Cabrera Center Field Curtis Granderson Right Field Matt Joyce Designated Hitter Magglio Ordonez No. 1 Starter Justin Verlander No. 2 Starter Rick Porcello No. 3 Starter Dontrelle Willis No. 4 Starter Jeremy Bonderman No. 5 Starter Nate Robertson Closer Joel Zumaya

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2007 1998 Juan Encarnacion, of Cardinals 1999 Gabe Kapler, of Out of baseball 2000 Eric Munson, 1b/c Astros 2001 Brandon Inge, c Tigers 2002 Nate Cornejo, rhp Out of baseball 2003 Jeremy Bonderman, rhp Tigers 2004 Kyle Sleeth, rhp Tigers 2005 Curtis Granderson, of Tigers 2006 Justin Verlander, rhp Tigers 2007 Cameron Maybin, of Tigers

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2007 1998 Jeff Weaver, rhp Mariners 1999 Eric Munson, 1b/c Astros 2000 Matt Wheatland, rhp Out of baseball 2001 Kenny Baugh, rhp Marlins 2002 Scott Moore, ss Orioles 2003 Kyle Sleeth, rhp Tigers 2004 Justin Verlander, rhp Tigers 2005 Cameron Maybin, of Tigers 2006 Andrew Miller, lhp Tigers 2007 Rick Porcello, rhp Tigers

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Rick Porcello, 2007 $3,580,000 Andrew Miller, 2006 $3,550,000 Eric Munson, 1999 $3,500,000 Kyle Sleeth, 2003 $3,350,000 Justin Verlander, 2004 $3,120,000

TIGERS LINKS

Tigers' Team Page Tigers Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Tigers Top 10 Prospects 2007 Draft: Tigers (Basic Database) 2007 Draft: Tigers  (Advanced Database) 2007 Draft Report Cards: American League  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook

The Tigers are clearly in the midst of a win-now era, after back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1987-88. The farm system, supported by an ample draft budget, is shouldering great responsibility in their pursuit of sustainable success.

Detroit has needed quality prospects for the major league roster and trades, and the supply of talent has been good. The emergence of Curtis Granderson, Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya fueled the Tigers' 2006 World Series run. Their depth was tested during 2007, when they tried gamely, though unsuccessfully, to reach the postseason for a second consecutive year.

With injuries to key players, several prospects made their major league debuts, led by star-in-the-making Cameron Maybin and righthanders Eulogio de la Cruz, Jair Jurrjens and Virgil Vasquez. Others with very little big league experience entering the season, such as lefthander Andrew Miller, righthander Yorman Bazardo, catcher Mike Rabelo and outfielder Ryan Raburn, were relied upon at various times.

During the offseason, the Tigers used many of those players to bolster their big league club via trades. They addressed their biggest need less than 24 hours after the World Series, when they dealt Jurrjens and fleet center fielder Gorkys Hernandez to the Braves for all-star shortstop Edgar Renteria. That was merely a prelude to an eight-player blockbuster at the Winter Meetings.

Detroit's willingness to surrender Maybin and Miller allowed it to pry both Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins. The Tigers also included de la Cruz, Rabelo and righthanders Dallas Trahern and Burke Badenhop. Now they'll have seven former all-stars in the 2008 lineup, not to mention three in their rotation.

Those deals, along with the trade that sent three pitching prospects to the Yankees for Gary Sheffield after the 2006 season, have had an obvious effect on the system.

Detroit has attempted to fill any gaps in their farm system by spending big in the draft. On Aug. 15, the first uniform signing deadline day in draft history, the Tigers invested $9.4 million to sign righthander Rick Porcello (first round), lefthander Casey Crosby (fifth), shortstop Cale Iorg (sixth) and lefthander Matt Hoffman (26th).

The expenditure demonstrated Tigers owner Mike Ilitch's willingness to sustain a winning team. And the club has scouting director David Chadd, whose draft picks during his tenure with the Red Sox included Jonathan Papelbon and Dustin Pedroia. Similar over-slot spending landed Maybin and Miller, without whom the Cabrera/Willis trade would have been impossible to pull off.

"You can spend your money toward talent in various ways," Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said at the deadline. "One place we can compete—and I feel like we do an outstanding job—is scouting at the amateur level, and developing those players."

The Tigers are enjoying record revenues, having just drawn more than three million fans for the first time in franchise history, and their player payroll is on its way upward of $125 million, which would be another club record. The system is unlikely to offer any immediate help after the rash of trades, though that's also less important with all the additional veteran talent that has been brought on board.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team